Starfire Tires put to the test

The team from Starfire Australia, travelled to America to see Starfire put its RS-R 1.0 tyre to the test against five popular brands of Asian-made tyres available in Australia. Just south of San Antonio, Texas, is the Tyre & Vehicle Test Center (TVTC), a 1,000 acre fully comprehensive facility for looking at all aspects of vehicle testing, whether it be tyres or aftermarket components.

All aspects of a tyres performance and safety can be tested at the TVTC. Ryan, who has over 25 years of experience, was the test driver for all four tests conducted. The Starfire RS-R 1.0 was tested against five leading brands that are currently on the market. The five leading brands that Starfire was tested against were Nankang, Hankook, Toyo, Bridgestone and Kumho.

All six brands were tested in all four tests. The tyre size chosen for all brands was 235/45R17, most common performance tyre size. To measure the results high tech equipment was used in the test car. The results of each test clearly highlighted the strength and quality of Starfire Tires against five other brands.

The four tests conducted were wet braking, wet handling, dry braking and dry handling. The performance of each tyre is crucial in each test as each test highlights real life scenarios that driver’s may come across on a daily basis.

Starfire Tires performance in all four tests was exceptional. The results from the wet braking test are a clear demonstration of Starfire’s performance, with Starfire Tires stopping 8.82m shorter than the worst performing tyre. This distance is equivalent to 2½ car lengths. These results clearly highlight the importance of having a tyre not only tested to stringent US standards but also a US engineered tyre which can outperform five leading brands.

The wet braking test shows the distance it takes for the vehicle to stop under wet conditions. The vehicle approaches at highway speeds of 60mph (96kph) before performing a full ABS stop. Instruments inside the car measure the distance it takes the vehicle to make a complete stop.Click here for more details...

The wet handling test shows how well a tyre can be pushed around a simulated road course. The course has a number of real world characteristics such as evasive lane changes, heavy braking and sharp cornering, plus getting up to speeds where hydroplaning can occur. Click here for more details...

The dry braking test shows how far it takes for the vehicle to stop in dry, everyday conditions. The vehicle approaches at highway speeds of 60mph (96kph) before performing a full ABS stop. Instruments inside the car measure the distance it takes the vehicle to make a complete stop.Click here for more details...

The dry handling test is the most comprehensive test for the tyres’ overall dry performance. The test covers all aspects of everyday driving from long high speed straights, tight off-camber turns and rapid direction changes, whilst trying to complete the course in the fastest possible time. The tyre has been pushed to the limits so you do not need to.Click here for more details...